Maria Elizabeth Gitto

Maria Elizabeth Gitto passed away on March 5, 2022 in San Diego, California.

Maria said the only deadline she ever missed was her birth. Due to debut on Valentine's Day 1969, she instead arrived on February 28 in Akron, Ohio to Dorothy and Natale Gitto.

After graduating Kent State University, Summa Cum Laude, Maria had a successful career as a copywriter and creative director in Ohio, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Palm Springs.

Throughout her career, Maria developed and produced award-winning work that has been recognized worldwide including selection as a Film Lions finalist at Cannes and winning a London International Advertising Award.

As a creative director at The Walt Disney Company, Maria’s accomplishments include an Emmy-nominated series on girls' education in India and a campaign featuring Michelle Obama for Disney's Joining Forces. She produced music videos starring Zendaya, Dove Cameron and Sophia Carson to name a few.

She often said rescuing her dog, Junior, was her greatest accomplishment. Theirs was true love.

After being diagnosed in 2020 with a rare non-smoking related lung cancer, Maria worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the dangers of radon gas which she believed was the cause of her cancer. She passionately advocated for furthering lung cancer research and early detection. In 2022, she completed a certificate program in Clinical Trials Design & Management from the University of California, San Diego.

She loved Elton John, sushi, hoodies, SoCal, coconut cake, filet mignon, laughing, coffee, sea turtles, martinis, snorkeling and Snoopy. Not necessarily in that order.

Maria was preceded in death by her mother Dorothy Gitto (Stevenson), brother Dennis Fleming and niece Claire Hardesty. Maria is survived by her father Natale Gitto, partner Barbara Jackman, sisters Patricia Hardesty (Fleming) and Sandra Wolfe (Fleming), and many beloved nieces.

Services will be held Saturday, March 19, 11:30 A.M. at the Billow Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., where the family and friends will be received from 10 A.M. until service time. Interment will follow at Chestnut Hill Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, Maria requested donations be made in Junior Gitto's name to: Pet Adoption Fund 7507-7515 Deering Avenue Canoga Park, CA 91303 petadoptionfund.org.

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road  Akron, OH  44333.